Concealed Carry State Laws In Arkansas

Concealed carry laws, or CCW’s, in Arkansas refers to the legally issued permit which allows for the carrying of a handgun or other weapon in a concealed manner within any place open to the general public.

Not all weapons that fall under concealed carry state laws in Arkansas are lethal, there are some states that regulate non-lethal items such a pepper spray that are carried over a set volume requiring the obtaining of a CCW permit. (In some states non-lethal items require a separate permit)

Every State's Concealed Carry Laws Are Unique In Arkansas

While in Arkansas there is no current federal law that specifically address the issuance of concealed carry permits for private citizens as each state is responsible for the control of concealed carry permits within its sovereign borders. All 50 states have passed laws allowing their respective residents to carry certain concealed firearms in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a permit from their local Sheriff’s office or Chief of police.

In all states and in Arkansas the only federal law concerning CCW’s is the Peace Officer Safety Act of 2004, (H.R. 218) to lean about this and all other states Concealed Carry Laws see our database on our website US Precision Defense where we maintain a comprehensive listing of every States weapons laws.

The Arkansas state constitution states; “The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense.”

Recently Arkansas enacted a new handgun law; legislation passed by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2013 and signed into law by Gov. Mike Beebe will allow anyone to openly carry a firearm in a county other than their own. The group says Arkansas will become the fifth state to enact what is known as; "Constitutional Carry". The new law, Act 746, which updated the weapons laws, does not require a permit or training. Beginning July 1, 2013 Arkansas citizens will be able to carry a handgun openly almost anywhere in the state with some restricted areas.

We highly suggest that citizens of Arkansas consult a lawyer before carrying a handgun in public after the act takes effect. Being a new law, Act 746 is untested by the state or county level courts, and law enforcement officials are not completely aware of the implications as it pertains to the carrying of handguns. There is a real possibility that different county prosecutors may construe the law differently.

In response to the newly enacted law Arkansas’ two largest university systems voted to ban faculty and staff from carrying concealed handguns on campus, joining a growing number of schools in the state opting out of a new law allowing firearms on campus. The University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University system boards voted unanimously to opt out of the new law that leaves the decision on concealed carry weapons up to the individual colleges and universities. Arkansas Tech University’s board also voted to keep the concealed weapons off its campuses in Russellville and Ozark.

At least nine other schools around the state have voted to opt out of the guns on campus law.

Arkansas is a "shall issue" state for the concealed carry of firearms. Applicants must pass a background check and complete a training course to receive a new or renewal concealed carry license. An existing license is suspended or revoked if the license holder is arrested for a felony or for any violent act, becomes ineligible due to mental health treatment, or for a number of other reasons. Concealed Carried firearms (handguns) may not be carried at a courthouse, meeting place of any government entity, athletic event, tavern, or in a number of other specific places.

US Precision Defense keeps a complete and up to date database of all states gun related laws which we make available to all of our members.

Arkansas continues in 2013 to make solid improvements to the states Right to keep and bear arms. The Regular Session of the state legislature actions proves to be one of the most productive for pro-Second Amendment legislative reforms in recent memory.

Arkansas citizens can now carry a concealed gun into a bar, or a liquor store, or a church. College staffers can bring guns on campus. Citizens with a CCW permit from other states can carry concealed in Arkansas without filing any paperwork. These are among the half-dozen legal changes in the state that passed only four months since the Newtown massacre, and Arkansas has plenty of company. While the Senate failed to pull the trigger on expanded background checks, 15 other states have already passed 25 different gun rights measures so far this year, and more are pending in even other states.

According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 15 states have enacted some 31 laws regarding guns so far in 2013. Of them, more than 80 percent increase gun rights by, among other things, allowing owners to carry their guns in more places and making it easier for applicants to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Even more states are expanding their reciprocity agreements, Arkansas being one of those states.

This is truly bizarre. The Democratic Party, which pushed hard for so-called universal background checks last winter, has reversed their position in Arkansas. After all, the pro-gun control camp again failed miserably, and the president wasted the most precious moments of his second term on this bad piece of legislation. Did the Democrats learn their lesson? No. Yet, are you surprised? No. If anything, Democrats are now doubling down on both pro-gun control and pro-gun rights positions, which only highlights the fact that liberals have no spine.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group co-founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, launched an ad campaign criticizing Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) for his vote against expanding background checks for gun purchases. In response Pryor stated; “The mayor of New York City is running ads against me because I oppose President Obama’s gun control legislation. Nothing in the Obama plan would have prevented tragedies like Newtown, Aurora, Tucson or even Jonesboro. I’m committed to finding real solutions to gun violence while protecting our Second Amendment rights. I’m Mark Pryor, and I approved this message because no one from New York or Washington tells me what to do. I listen to Arkansas.”

A Democrat that put’s his states wishes above party lines, Congratulations to Arkansas State Senator Mark Pryor.

To keep up on Arkansas gun laws visit our reciprocity maps on our home page of US Precision Defense.

U.S. Precision Defense assumes no liability and is not responsible for the actions of its members or readers of this website. The materials provided here are the opinions of the authors, are intended solely for education purposes, and should not be relied on for legal or professional advice. Laws relating to firearms and the use of deadly force vary from state to state, and each individual is responsible for compliance with the laws of each jurisdiction. If legal or other professional advice is needed, consult a lawyer or other professionals. All materials on this website are copyrighted to U.S. Precision Defense and may not be republished without permission from U.S. Precision Defense.